Eldridge Park Elementary Students "Celebrate the Arts"

On April 1, Eldridge Park Elementary School students spent the day learning about different types of arts in a workshop format called “Celebrate the Arts Day.”

Although the program has been around for five years now, it has been a little different each year.

School music director Amy Amiet explained: “The first year was more like this year, but it included workshops all day.” During the second year, she said, an artist-in-residence worked with students earlier in the day, which ended with an assembly. During the third year there was a character mural painting and a literary workshop.  “Last year we did a whole school book writing that was acted out by the high school drama class and then bound into a book,” she said.

This year, students attended four different sessions in the morning that covered topics such as drama, music, musical instruments, film, painting, and tortilla making. In the afternoon they were treated to a hip-hop performance by Illstyle and Peace Productions.

The hip-hop program told the history of hip-hop dance while spreading the positive message “You can be anything you want to be if you work hard and pay attention!”  The assembly was paid for by the Eldridge Park Elementary School PTO. 

A first-grader was overheard saying, “This is the funnest day ever!”

Over the course of three hours, students were exposed to aspects of the arts that some adults never experience.

Eric Puliti showed second- and third-graders different types of stringed instruments (such as the bass guitar) and what makes each one unique.

Members of the Lawrence High School Drama Club, meanwhile, came to the elementary school to do some acting exercises with kindergarteners. The little ones squealed with excitement as they were taught by the bigger kids.

In another room, a student from The College of New Jersey had children draw abstract art while listening to “Swan Lake.” After drawing the lines, they used different colors to fill in where the lines connected.

The highlight of the day, however, seemed to be making tortillas as students learned about the art of cooking. Parents worked with students one grade at a time teaching them step-by-step how to make tortillas.

Of course, the best part was at the end when each student was allowed to taste one of the freshly-made tortillas.

“Celebrate the Arts Day” was a collaborative effort by physical education teacher P.J. Barrett, art teacher Jennifer Skorupa, media specialist Michele Immordino, and Amiet, the music teacher. 

 “We are proud of the fact that so many community members and parents come out to volunteer their time to us on this special day,” Amiet said.